Iranian Drone and Missile Proliferation: What Are Iran’s Ambitions?

Russia’s growing use of Iranian-made kamikaze drones to kill civilians in Ukraine surprised many European and American observers who were unaware that Iranian weapons have advanced considerably in recent years. In addition to drones, Iranian ballistic missiles and cruise missiles have also become much more sophisticated and lethal. It comes as no surprise, then, that Iran is reportedly in the process of shipping missiles to Russia.
For Middle East observers, however, Iranian advances in missiles and drones are unsurprising. In 2019, the Houthi militia in Yemen, an Iranian proxy, attacked Saudi Arabia’s oil production facilities with these weapons. Since then, Iran’s missiles and drones have posed a threat to the stability of the Middle East, yet the United States has had no meaningful initiatives to counteract Tehran’s growing power. Iran’s disruptive military capabilities pose a significant threat to the strategic interests of the US and its allies. How great is the threat? How should the Biden administration react to it? Please join us to discuss these timely issues.